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For a receiver or soundbar connected by HDMI, first set the TV’s Sound Output or Speakers option to the external audio system. Connect the TV’s HDMI port labeled ARC or eARC to the audio device’s matching TV-ARC/eARC or HDMI OUT (ARC/eARC) port, select that input on the receiver or soundbar, and enable HDMI-CEC when the equipment requires it. Then choose a digital format the audio device can decode: Auto is the normal starting point, Pass-Through avoids TV processing when the receiver supports the incoming formats, and PCM is the safest fallback for incompatibility or silence.
Menu names vary by manufacturer, model year, software and region. The settings below explain what each option does, how ARC and eARC differ, and the order to use when no sound comes out.
1. Set the TV to use the external audio system
A TV can continue routing sound to its built-in speakers even when an HDMI cable is connected. Open the TV’s sound menu and find a setting named Sound Output, Speaker Select, Speakers or Audio Output. Choose the connected receiver, soundbar, HDMI receiver, or external speaker option rather than TV Speaker.
Samsung’s setup guidance explicitly requires the TV audio setting to be changed to an external speaker for soundbar playback. Other manufacturers use different labels and menu paths, so use the wording shown on your model. If the external device does not appear as an option, continue with the connection and control checks below rather than repeatedly changing the format.
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2. Connect the correct HDMI ports and select the matching input
ARC (Audio Return Channel) sends audio from the TV to an audio system through HDMI. It is particularly useful for sound from built-in TV apps, because the TV can return the app’s audio to the receiver or soundbar without a separate audio cable.
- Locate the HDMI socket on the TV marked ARC or eARC. Port numbering and location differ by model.
- Connect it to the receiver or soundbar port marked TV ARC, eARC, or HDMI OUT (ARC/eARC). A regular HDMI input on the audio device is not the return-channel port.
- Turn on the audio device and select its TV, ARC, or eARC input. Some equipment switches automatically; verify the selected input on its display or app.
- Set the TV’s Speakers/Sound Output control to the external system.
Samsung’s connection instructions are illustrated for Samsung equipment, but the port principle applies broadly. The labels printed beside the sockets are more reliable than their physical position. If the TV has several HDMI ports, only the one identified as ARC/eARC can return TV audio.
3. Decide whether to enable eARC
eARC is the higher-bandwidth version of ARC. It can carry formats that ordinary ARC cannot, but both endpoints must support eARC and the signal path must be configured for it. Sony states: “Connected devices must support eARC to utilize the features.” An eARC television connected to an ARC-only soundbar does not upgrade that soundbar; the connection is limited to ARC capabilities.
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| Connection | What it can carry | When to choose it |
|---|---|---|
| ARC | Standard ARC-bandwidth audio, subject to the TV, source and audio device | Either device lacks eARC, or the content does not require eARC formats |
| eARC | Higher-bitrate and lossless formats when both devices and the source support them | Both TV and receiver/soundbar explicitly support eARC |
Sony describes eARC as supporting uncompressed 5.1 and 7.1 audio, Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD. Those are capability examples, not a guarantee that every TV app or HDMI source will output each format. Sony’s support information lists eARC bandwidth of up to 37 Mbs, while Samsung Canada’s comparison table gives high-bitrate/object-based audio as up to 192 kHz, 23-bit for its supported equipment. Treat both figures as manufacturer specifications tied to compatible hardware, not universal performance guarantees.
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4. Choose the digital audio output format
The TV’s digital audio format setting may be called Digital Output Audio Format, Digital Sound Output, or simply Audio Format. The available choices commonly include Auto, Pass-Through and PCM.
| Setting | How it behaves | Best use | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auto | The TV selects a format it identifies as supported by the connected equipment. | Normal starting point when the receiver or soundbar is known to support the source formats. | Compatibility detection and available formats vary by TV, app and HDMI device. |
| Pass-Through | The TV forwards audio without processing. Samsung states: “If you select the Pass-Through option, the audio data is output with no processing.” | A receiver or soundbar should decode the original Dolby/DTS signal and all devices in the path support it. | Unsupported formats can produce silence or an error; do not select it blindly. |
| PCM | The TV outputs pulse-code-modulated audio that is broadly decoded by receivers and soundbars. | Troubleshooting ARC/eARC silence or a receiver that cannot decode the current Dolby/DTS format. | PCM may remove the original compressed or object-based bitstream, and the number of channels depends on the TV and connection. |
Change one format at a time and test the same source after each change. Sony uses PCM as a recommended step in a model-specific ARC/eARC no-sound procedure. That makes PCM a useful compatibility test, not a universal “best quality” setting. If PCM restores sound, check the receiver’s codec support before returning to Auto or Pass-Through.
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ARC/eARC commonly relies on HDMI-CEC for power, input switching and device discovery. Manufacturers give CEC different names. Samsung calls it Anynet+; another brand may label it HDMI Control, Bravia Sync, Simplink, Viera Link or a similar term.
Enable CEC on both the TV and the receiver/soundbar when the manual says it is required. CEC is separate from the audio format: a receiver can decode a format yet fail to switch to the ARC input if control communication is disabled. After changing CEC, power-cycle both devices so they renegotiate the HDMI connection.
6. Match the setting to the source
TV apps, an HDMI-connected disc player, a game console and a set-top box do not necessarily expose the same audio formats. The TV may transcode one source, pass another unchanged, or limit formats according to the app and its own decoder. A receiver connected to the TV therefore cannot be assumed to receive every codec that an external player could produce when connected directly.
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- For built-in apps, use the TV’s ARC/eARC connection and verify the app’s audio-language or surround setting.
- For an HDMI source plugged into the TV, check the source device’s bitstream/PCM setting as well as the TV’s output format.
- For an external player routed through the receiver first, the receiver’s input and decoding capabilities become part of the path; the TV may only receive the receiver’s output.
- Confirm that the receiver or soundbar explicitly supports the Dolby, DTS or PCM format selected. “Pass-Through” does not add a decoder.
7. Troubleshoot no sound in a fixed order
Use this sequence so that a cable, input and format problem is not mistaken for a codec problem.
- Confirm the physical path. Reseat the HDMI cable at both ends. Verify that the TV end is in the socket labeled ARC/eARC and the audio-device end is in TV ARC/eARC or HDMI OUT ARC/eARC.
- Choose the audio input. On the receiver or soundbar, select TV, ARC or eARC. Do not leave it on an unrelated HDMI input.
- Switch TV speakers to external output. Reopen the sound menu and select the receiver/soundbar option.
- Check CEC and eARC. Enable the manufacturer’s HDMI-CEC control. Set eARC to Auto only if both devices support it; otherwise turn eARC off or use the ARC mode specified by the manual.
- Test Auto, then PCM. Start with Auto. If there is silence, select PCM and replay the same content. PCM is especially useful when the receiver cannot decode the current Dolby/DTS signal.
- Test Pass-Through only with confirmed support. Select Pass-Through when the audio device is documented to decode the source format. If sound disappears, return to Auto or PCM.
- Remove competing HDMI devices temporarily. Disconnect other HDMI equipment from the TV, leave only the ARC/eARC cable, and restart both devices. Reconnect the other equipment after audio is restored.
- Perform a fresh HDMI handshake. Turn off the TV and audio device, unplug them briefly if the manuals permit, reconnect the ARC/eARC cable firmly, then power the TV on before the receiver/soundbar. This can clear stale CEC or ARC detection.
Sony’s ARC/eARC troubleshooting flow and Samsung’s support instructions both emphasize checking output selection, ports, input selection, HDMI-CEC/eARC and supported formats. Exact recovery behavior remains model-specific; consult the manuals for the particular TV and audio device if the external system still is not detected.
8. Decide whether a different HDMI cable is warranted
A cable cannot add ARC/eARC or codec support to hardware that lacks those features. Replace the cable only when it is damaged, unreliable, unsuitable for the equipment’s stated requirements, or fails during an eARC setup. Sony recommends a High-Speed HDMI cable with Ethernet for eARC, and Samsung likewise specifies a compatible HDMI cable for its ARC/eARC connection guidance.
If an existing cable works reliably with ARC and the devices are ARC-only, buying a higher-rated cable will not create eARC. Conversely, an eARC-capable TV and soundbar can still fail if the cable does not meet the equipment manual’s requirements. Confirm the manual’s cable category before purchasing.
9. A practical setting sequence for common situations
Soundbar with ARC-only hardware
Use the TV’s ARC port, the soundbar’s TV ARC/HDMI OUT port, external-speaker output and the soundbar’s TV input. Leave eARC off unless the soundbar documentation says it supports eARC. Begin with Auto; use PCM if a particular app or format is silent.
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Receiver and soundbar both support eARC
Use matching eARC ports, enable CEC, set eARC to Auto, and start with Auto digital output. Try Pass-Through only after confirming that the receiver decodes the formats produced by the TV apps and connected sources. This is the configuration in which lossless or high-bitrate formats are most likely to be useful, provided every device in the path supports them.
Receiver does not decode the current Dolby/DTS signal
Leave the physical ARC/eARC connection in place, change the TV’s digital output to PCM, and test again. If sound returns, the signal path is functioning; the original format was incompatible with the receiver or another device. Keep PCM or change the source’s audio setting to a format the receiver documents as supported.
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- An ARC-only soundbar cannot receive eARC-only capabilities merely because the TV has an eARC socket.
- A TV cannot pass a codec that its software, app, source path or hardware does not support.
- Pass-Through cannot make an undecoding receiver understand Dolby or DTS.
- A new cable cannot create ARC/eARC hardware support.
- Changing PCM, Auto and Pass-Through will not correct a cable plugged into a non-ARC HDMI port or an audio device set to the wrong input.
When all settings appear correct but the TV still reports no external audio device, the remaining causes are usually model-specific compatibility, firmware behavior, a defective port or a failed cable. Record the exact TV and receiver/soundbar models, their HDMI port labels, and the result of each format test before contacting manufacturer support.
Frequently asked questions
Does eARC always provide Dolby Atmos?
No. eARC provides the transport capability, but Atmos must also be present in the source and supported by the TV app, cable path and receiver or soundbar. An ARC-only endpoint limits the connection to ARC capabilities.
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Why does PCM work while Auto is silent?
PCM is usually decoded by more equipment. Auto may be selecting a Dolby or DTS format that the receiver, soundbar or source path does not accept. A working PCM test points to format compatibility rather than a failed HDMI return channel.
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Should Pass-Through be left on permanently?
Only when the connected audio device supports every format you expect to receive. Pass-Through intentionally avoids TV processing, so an unsupported input can result in silence. Auto is safer when the equipment’s codec support is uncertain.
Can I use any HDMI port for ARC?
No. The TV and audio device each require the specifically labeled ARC/eARC or HDMI OUT (ARC/eARC) port. Other HDMI sockets carry inputs but do not provide the return channel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does eARC always provide Dolby Atmos?
No. eARC provides the transport capability, but Atmos must also be present in the source and supported by the TV app, cable path and receiver or soundbar. An ARC-only endpoint limits the connection to ARC capabilities.
Why does PCM work while Auto is silent?
PCM is usually decoded by more equipment. Auto may be selecting a Dolby or DTS format that the receiver, soundbar or source path does not accept. A working PCM test points to format compatibility rather than a failed HDMI return channel.
Should Pass-Through be left on permanently?
Only when the connected audio device supports every format you expect to receive. Pass-Through intentionally avoids TV processing, so an unsupported input can result in silence. Auto is safer when the equipment’s codec support is uncertain.
Can I use any HDMI port for ARC?
No. The TV and audio device each require the specifically labeled ARC/eARC or HDMI OUT (ARC/eARC) port. Other HDMI sockets carry inputs but do not provide the return channel.
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